Metareview: The Ballad of Gay Tony
by David Hinkle 
{ Oct 28th 2009 at 10:50PM } 
- Game Informer (93/100): "While I preferred the tight-knit story of brotherhood and betrayal in The Lost and Damned, The Ballad of Gay Tony delivers more explosive weapons, death-defying missions, and off-the-wall characters. Don't miss your chance to close out the GTA IV experience in style."
- IGN (92/100): "The Ballad of Gay Tony is the perfect way to close out the GTA IV saga. Finally, we know what happened to the diamonds stolen in the main story a year-and-a-half ago. Though Luis Lopez doesn't have much of a story at all (this is the ballad of his boss, after all), the supporting cast is phenomenal. There are a lot of hilarious moments and ludicrous missions that will please GTA fans. Sure, a few of the missions fall flat compared to the wild nature of others, but all-in-all this is a fine package and worth 20 bucks. "
- 1UP (A-): "This has been one hell of a ride. I'm going to miss seeing something new in Liberty City, as I've probably been to every available nook and cranny. I suppose I could still go hunting for those damn pigeons, but with so many other games coming out in the coming months, I don't know where I'll find the time... at least until Rockstar gives me a ticket to their next world of crime, violence, and vice."
- Eurogamer (80/100): "Perhaps Tony Prince does nothing to drag the series forward -- somewhat fittingly for a man with his head stuck in the eighties -- but the episode Rockstar has named in his honour is a colourful and pleasingly unpredictable adventure that gets better throughout and ends on a high."
Gallery: GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Wardo @ Oct 28th 2009 10:52PM
I'm probably a minority on here but having enjoyed GTA IV thoroughly in all its forms, I'm sure I will also enjoy The Ballad of Gay Tony.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 28th 2009 11:49PM
I've never understood all the GTA IV hate. It's not perfect, but it's a goddamn good game.
Warlord @ Oct 30th 2009 12:36PM
I dont know what "hate" you guys are talking about but this game has the highest ratings of this gen so far. i dont think it deserved all those 10's though, 8's or 9's yes but 10 come on its GTA 3 with better graphics.
pibs @ Oct 29th 2009 2:31AM
@Warlord That is exactly why I think it deserves a ten, because its just the GTA3 of this gen. It tells R* that while we think GTA4 is a 10, we expect this generations VC and SA equivalents to be 11s. I just kind of hope they go and revisit an old expansion like GTA London 1969 and bring it to this new generation.
Durden @ Oct 28th 2009 10:52PM
I can't wait to buy it! This is what GTAIV should have been in the first place!
archie91s @ Oct 28th 2009 10:56PM
I loved GTA IV, and I wish I could play these but I can't because I have a ps3. I hope Rockstar doesn't do any exclusive stuff for the next GTA.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 28th 2009 11:41PM
TLAD was an incredible experience, one of the deepest and most believable story and characters ive ever played. As a devout 360 preferer, i have to say exclusivity sucks for everyone, I'm real sorry for you : /
Mr.ESC @ Oct 28th 2009 10:58PM
Eurogamer 80
*spits coffee.
What? What happened?,they finally ran out of 7s? I'm truly impressed.
Bravo Eurogamer,bravo.
Look At This Suit @ Oct 28th 2009 11:06PM
I clicked on this article fully prepared to make this exact same comment.
Markez @ Oct 28th 2009 11:21PM
*spits coffee
ESC DRINKS COFFEE?! WHAT!? AND WHATS THIS... FIVE DOLLAR FOOT LONGS?!
*HEAD ASPLODES*
WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 29th 2009 12:07AM
I was under the impression that it was the ONLY thing he drank.
PedoJokerBear [Planeteer | Power of Gall Bladder] @ Oct 29th 2009 9:18AM
their 7 through 1 keys were jammed.
Discotheque @ Oct 28th 2009 10:59PM
That's awesome. But now that this is over. Bring on GTA V!!!
solarshadows074 @ Oct 28th 2009 11:08PM
i would also love a remake of the oh so popular San Andreas.
Steven @ Oct 29th 2009 1:07AM
I'm all for GTA V, but I'd prefer at least a small DLC or update for the PS3 version first. Did Rockstar forget about us?
Filthy Assistant @ Oct 29th 2009 6:40AM
I think LA Noire (ho ho ho remember that?) is the next project, followed by GTA V. But it's Rockstar so who knows.
Sandmonkey @ Oct 28th 2009 11:01PM
I wish I could buy this, but I never really owned GTA4, I've played it A LOT at my friends house, and he also had LaD, which were both equally fun and engaging. Also, the main character in LaD (is his name Jimmy?) reminded me of Francis from L4D. I hate subways. I'm gonna go pick up a copy of GTAIV and 4000 microsoft points and live life. Virtually. The sun burns............ *hissss*
incubeezer @ Oct 28th 2009 11:07PM
If you're from the US, Best Buy's buy two get one free:
GTA IV
GTA VI: Episodes from Liberty City
Free Game!
Your total: $80
My total: $70 + free game
do itttt
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 29th 2009 12:13AM
the lead in TLAD was named Johnny Klebitz. He was also referred to as Johnny K, John Boy, Johnny Boy and Johnny the Jew
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 29th 2009 12:15AM
Billy called him Klebitz the Heeb at one point.
mooman @ Oct 29th 2009 3:42AM
Erm I'm pretty sure that GTA is made by Rockstar North and the last time I checked they worked in Edinburgh in Scotland
LegendaryRedass @ Oct 28th 2009 11:01PM
As expected, Eurogamer gives the lowest score to the American developer. Let's see what they do to MW2. Another 80? Assassins Creed 2 will get at least a 95 no matter what I'm sure.
ifalldownstairs @ Oct 28th 2009 11:18PM
so you're saying a major European magazine has a hard-on for Canadians?
james @ Oct 28th 2009 11:33PM
quebec ≠ france
Sly @ Oct 28th 2009 11:37PM
quebec ≠ america (as in the country) too, and that's what matters for eurogamer.
marvin69 @ Oct 28th 2009 11:43PM
Quebec ≠ Canada
At least that's what I heard in Quebec
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 28th 2009 11:46PM
Eurogamer gives everything low grades. I bet AC2 will be lucky to get an 85
ifalldownstairs @ Oct 28th 2009 11:59PM
Wow, what's with all the completely unfounded opinions around here? I really like Eurogamer's reviews. Halo 3, Street Fighter IV, and Uncharted got 10s while Arkham Asylum, Forza 3, Shadow Complex, Demon's Souls and Killzone 2 got 9s.
Unlike most sites and magazines, they don't hand out 8s and 9s with impunity, they have a spread of scores in which 7 actually equates to average, 8 to good, 9 to great, and 10 to incredible. Sorry they don't fulfill the imaginary obligations you imagine for them based on your decision that anything below and 8 is shit. Honestly, most games deserve a 7, and when Eurogamer rates a game highly it's far higher praise than the same score from IGN or Game Informer.
ifalldownstairs @ Oct 29th 2009 12:02AM
Oh, one more thing. Assassin's Creed got a well-deserved 7 from Eurogamer.
Discotheque @ Oct 29th 2009 12:23AM
AC2 will be lucky to get a 60 if it's anything like the first game.
Oh but since this is Ubisoft it will get an inflated review of 90-100
ifalldownstairs @ Oct 29th 2009 12:31AM
Discotheque -
Are you illiterate or just a complete moron?
Assassin's Creed, Tom Clancy's Endwar, and Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway (which I actually would rate much higher), all Ubisoft games, got 7s. HAWX and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements got 6s. Haze got a 4!
Where the hell is this inflation you speak of?
Eh @ Oct 29th 2009 12:09PM
Eurogamer doesnt review anything objectively. The scores mean nothing unless you have a favorite reviewer that shares your views. Eurogamer is notorious for giving bizarre scores that dont seem to make any sense based on their other scores. If you try to find some consistency and system in their reviews then youre wasting your time.
green11420 @ Oct 28th 2009 11:07PM
I expected nothing less from Rockstar. Especially nowadays.
Jason Statham (Has a ps3 now) @ Oct 28th 2009 11:18PM
Can't wait to pick this up.
RKN @ Oct 28th 2009 11:20PM
I'll definitely rent this for the 360, if this comes to the PC version, I will buy it for sure, big fan of GTA4, lots of fun still on the PC!
james @ Oct 28th 2009 11:34PM
looks fun, i shall get it
Jordan Biffle @ Oct 28th 2009 11:36PM
I was going to wait for this just be out on PS3 in a couple of months (lets face it, Rockstar always break exclusive deals) but I just decided my 360 can use something new.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 28th 2009 11:38PM
Dammit, these reviews didnt tell me what I was most worried about! Is there any full frontal cock like in TLAD? Cause I do really not care for that. Ah, really excited for it anyway, cock and all. I used to be one of those people that hated GTA IV, I played Saints Row 2 way more, but then when TLAD came out, I replayed the main game and then TLAD, and i completely forgot any reasons i didnt like it, and then this is supposed to take away the complaints other people had, cant wait.
Stevetrop @ Oct 28th 2009 11:51PM
I doubt that there will be any wangs in your face. Sure the guy the protagonist works for is gay but I don't think you will have to worry about penises flinging around in the game.
It's one of those crazy final chapters to a great game. We can only expect GTA:V to be wilder.
nukee @ Oct 28th 2009 11:43PM
So all this fun stuff really should have been in the game in the first place, but because I've got a PS3 I get the shaft.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 28th 2009 11:52PM
that's not fair to say it should have been in the game the first time. This isnt a 24kb download that unlocks something on the disc, this is a big expansion coming out more than a year later. I know that wasn't quite what you meant, and you meant the crazy explosiveness should have been in the game, but it really shouldnt have. GTA IV was quite literally that, GTA IV, not GTA Liberty City Again, not GTA San Andreas. It was the next step in the series, and the creators wanted and succeeded in making it a serious crime drama rather than a crazy cheat fueled romp. It's not what should have been in the game, it's just what you wanted.
nukee @ Oct 28th 2009 11:58PM
I get they went for the realistic approach. But don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the game. It's just that there is little that makes me pop the disc back in and play for awhile like the last gen games did. That was all the fun and stupid stuff that you could do once you beat the game. All I'm asking for are the new vehicles and such that give it the classic GTA feel of insanity, they can keep the extra storyline.
WiredKnight: Keeper of Threads @ Oct 29th 2009 12:12AM
I'm with you. I loved the game, but once you've played through all the missions a couple times, there's not much else to do.
CH3BURASHKA @ Oct 28th 2009 11:43PM
I'm still pretty blown away at the fact that both episodes were 20 bucks. I recall a Dan Houser (Howser?) interview in which he said that GTA4 is a 60 dollar game, and any DLC will be priced/made accordingly.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 28th 2009 11:49PM
There's tons of flexibility in that statement. It could be taken to mean that it's expensive so the DLC will be a way to reward you, or it could (and I guess it does) that the expensive razor has expensive blades
CH3BURASHKA @ Oct 29th 2009 12:04AM
Are you insinuating that GTA4, with all that it had to offer (sans DLC) was and is expensive at 60 buckaroos?
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 29th 2009 12:11AM
no, but maybe he was. Maybe he meant "this is a full game, not an XBLA game or a budget priced 30 at release game"
marvin69 @ Oct 28th 2009 11:53PM
"should have been in the game in the first place"
why complain so small? why not complain all games should have been pre-loaded on your PS3 before you bought it! all the games coming out now were planned before the PS3 launched! why not get what you pay for? companies only worry about money that they use to pay their employees and pay taxes on!
Danzaiver @ Oct 29th 2009 12:16AM
I hope this DLC is longer than TLAD but I'm still a HUGE fan of GTA so I will give gay Tony a shot ... wait ... damn lol
I want GTA V in San Andreas please :D
jynxycat @ Oct 29th 2009 12:42AM
Just finished the dlc and clocked in at 9 hours with little to no side missions completed.
The characters are great as ever. Brucie's relatives make an appearance, which is hilarious. The club scene characters are solid. The new 'villians' are colorful.
Also, the way the game begins during an intense scene from the first game and the way Rockstar once again melds Luis' missions into both 4 and TLAD past missions is flawless. The diamond story also comes full circle.
My main gripe is that the difficulty factor towards the end is low.
Definitely worth the dlc price, Rockstar can do no wrong.